OCD or Obsessive Compulsive Disorder is a condition in which a person experiences disturbing and unwanted feelings and behaviors. The obsessions of an OCD sufferer can be anything like feeling panic at the thought of performing any task, fear of being rejected by other people, and having repeated obsessive thoughts. The compulsions of an OCD sufferer acts of anxiety that manifests physically as restlessness, panic attacks, uncontrollable shaking, and the feeling of their bodies being “foreign”. OCD cannot be diagnosed with a scientific method because there is no specific behavior that can be considered as a compulsion or a reaction to something. The compulsions that people with OCD exhibit stem from their own insecurities and fears. OCD is not a disease or abnormality but is a personal experience.
There are many different forms of OCD therapy, depending on what level you currently at on the OCD spectrum. Some of the popular forms of therapy include behavioral therapy, exposure therapy, and cognitive therapy. Here is a brief description of each one:
– Behavioral Therapy: This type of ocd treatment involves working with a therapist to find out what your unique triggers are, then finding ways to avoid those things. For example, if you have an intense fear of flying then you may try to find methods of transportation so that you never have to fly. You may also want to take medication or drink alcohol to help you calm down so that you do not have to deal with the anxiety and stress of flying. Of course, you should seek professional help from a qualified therapist who can evaluate your situation and determine the best course of action for you. This is by far the most effective ocd treatment.
– Exposure Therapy: Exposure therapy involves exposing the patient to their OCD symptoms for extended periods of time in an environment they are familiar with. This way the patient can control their symptoms and eventually prevent them. For example, someone suffering from asthma would likely need to take medication while they are at home until they are well enough to leave the house. With exposure therapy, you would go to places like libraries or grocery stores where people generally go on a regular basis. This is a great option because you get to expose yourself to the situations that trigger your anxiety and help you learn how to deal with them when you experience them.
– Cognitive Therapy: This is another very effective treatment option. It teaches the person suffering from OCD how to think and control their symptoms. In fact, cognitive therapy is the most widely used form of ocd therapy and the number of people using it is growing rapidly every year. By learning the various symptoms and how to manage and through different techniques, sufferers are better able to control their symptoms and live more normal lives. A popular technique is called “matching” where the patient will be asked to match a certain symptom with a certain thought or behavior.
– Exposure Therapy: Exposure Therapy is actually based on psychology and social science, which is why it’s considered one of the more effective forms of ocd therapy. This technique aims to allow you to confront your symptoms and help you manage them by avoiding them as much as possible. For instance, if you suffer from anxiety over thinking about money, you might try thinking about money instead of focusing on all the unpleasant thoughts that go through your mind when you have an impulse to buy something. If you are afraid of throwing away something, you can simply imagine throwing the object and see how you feel afterwards. By doing this, you can learn to manage your symptoms and eventually eliminate them completely.
– Exposure Therapy: This is done in conjunction with cognitive therapy and should be a very good combination. In this treatment option, you will go to public areas which are often avoided by those with an OCD disorder such as shopping malls. The goal is to trigger a panic attack in the person and force him or her to face the fact that the disorder is affecting their quality of life. Afterward, you can help the person overcome the disorder and return to living a normal, happy life.
There are many other good treatment options available today. Before choosing one, however, it’s important to remember that there is no cure for one. As such, you must be prepared to put in the time and effort to fully recovery and become as confident and comfortable as possible. One of the best things you can do for yourself is to start looking for a therapist who specializes in OCD therapy. This will allow you to get the treatment you need and get back to living a normal life.